Hey, everyone! Carol here! There’s so much to love about July itself – the Fourth of July is a BIG one, of course! Getting together with friends and family and celebrating independence is always fun!
But we have this one set of friends we’ve known for like…20 years or close to it anyway. They own our local Chick-fil-A and for many years owned the mall store. So we never “did Christmas” anywhere near Christmas. They barely had time for their own families that time of year.
Matt, me, Ginger, Steve
So we started doing November birthdays (me and Steve) whenever we did Christmas – usually February or so. But over the years, that has evolved into doing Christmas, November birthdays, and summer birthdays (my husband, Matt’s, is in June; Steve’s wife, Ginger’s, is in August) all at the same time, and usually sometime in the summer.
And, you guessed it, we often have Christmas in July!
So to celebrate Christmas in July, I released my Christmas novella, Gifts of Love, as a single. Previously, it was only available in the Snowflakes and Mistletoe collection. But, really, is there any seasonal limitations on gifts – or love?! Plus, it’s super hot here this July, and reading about winter and snow might make me feel cooler ;).
We first met Samantha and Vince in Good Enough for a Princess but Gifts of Love can be read as a stand-alone.
So here we go:
“I volunteered you to organize the faculty Christmas party.”
Samantha Dean just glared at the man on her doorstep. After he waggled his eyebrows at her, she finally responded. “Why would you do that?”
Vince Roberts pushed past her, shedding his scarf and coat as he walked further into the house. “Because you need a good dose of Christmas spirit this year, Sami. You’re playing Scrooge already, and it’s only Thanksgiving.”
He had a point, but she didn’t care. She wasn’t in the mood to celebrate anything. Normally, she put out a veritable cornucopia of Thanksgiving decorations, but this year? None.
Vince’s voice drifted back to her from the kitchen. “So what if Charlie got married a few months ago, and he’s already a Prince Consort of some little European country you’d never heard of this time last year. You two were really never actually a thing anyway.”
“Why are you really here, Vince?” She pushed the front door shut and found him with his head in her refrigerator. Her nearly empty refrigerator.
“You shouldn’t be alone on the holidays.” He straightened up and let the door close. “So, you have two choices.” He held up one finger. “Come with me to my sister’s house.” Another finger. “Or I’ll stay here with you, and we’ll try to make Thanksgiving dinner out of baking soda, pickle juice, leftovers turned science experiments, and questionable milk.”
That sounded appetizing. But it still sounded better than going to Vince’s sister’s house. She’d done that for Thanksgiving once. In college, right before their second date. In fact, Vince had been happily friending along when they went to his sister’s, because her parents had just moved away. Then, under the influence of eggnog and pumpkin-flavored-everything, he’d asked her out, and she’d been foolish enough to say yes.
The two things in her life she truly regretted were dates with the man standing in front of her. His maddeningly casual demeanor and easy smile as he leaned back against her newly remodeled kitchen counter irritated her to no end.
“So which is it going to be, Sami?” He hopped easily onto the counter behind him, his heels hitting the cabinet doors lightly.
“Option three. You leave. I order pizza.” She crossed her arms again and glared.
Something he must have become immune to.
“Nope. Only two choices, Sami.”
Oh! He knew she hated that nickname, even worse than being called Sam, a throwback to her tomboy days. “Fine. But I’m driving myself.” No way did she want to be stuck there at the mercy of Vince and his Camaro.
“Nope. She moved, and you don’t know your way around. You’ll get lost trying to get back out of the area.”
He had a point. Her sense of direction was challenged at best. Thank God for talking GPS. She also knew when she wouldn’t win the fight with the stupid man. “Fine. Whatever.”
“Good. Go change. Jeans and a decent shirt will be fine.”
Samantha glanced down at her ratty sweatpants and a Serenity Landing Elementary II t-shirt that had to be at least a decade old. Not sparing him a glance, she went down the hallway to the master bedroom, as far away from the kitchen as she could get, and slammed the door behind her. She didn’t bother to lock it. He wouldn’t come in. She did her best to stall for more time and come up with some story that would get her out of this, but nothing came to her.
Finally, with her favorite jeans on and paired with a sweater in Thanksgiving colors, she slid her feet into knee-high black boots with the three-inch heel. Her feet would be killing her by the end of the day, but she’d look great.
After putting on some lip gloss, she grabbed her purse and went back to the kitchen only to find Vince down the other hallway, near the spare bedroom and library, looking at a picture collage.
“You and Tricia were tight.” It wasn’t a question because he’d been there for all of it.
“Yes.”
“You were one of the first ones to hold Lindsey when she was born, right?”
So that’s what picture he was staring at. The one of her holding Tricia’s baby girl, the baby Tricia abandoned with Charlie just a few weeks later. “Yes. She wouldn’t let Charlie in, but her mom was with her during the birth. I was the first one they let in after that.” Did he realize how painful that day had been for her?
He turned to look at her, his brown eyes filled with a compassion she didn’t want from him. “Lindsey and Charlie are happy, you know. They love Addie and their life in Montevaro. He still has his private Facebook. He hardly ever posts, but he did post a picture of Lindsey skiing the other day. She was beaming.”
“I know. I saw it, too. I don’t want to talk about it.” She’d had a crush on Charlie since she was ten. Even though he’d been married for a few months, she wondered if she’d ever truly be able to put him behind her and get on with romance in her present life. “Let’s go.”
But she knew, when she did start dating again, it wouldn’t be Vince.
If you follow me on Facebook, you’ll sometimes see me post pictures of a friend’s rec room where I go write. That’s actually Steve and Ginger’s house. This book was written (mostly) in two long days in that room – in August – with Ginger’s Christmas CDs to help me along ;).
Have you ever celebrated Christmas in July? We are headed over to Steve and Ginger’s for the 4th and will likely make our plans then :).
One lucky commenter (before July 15) will receive a Kindle copy of Gifts of Love!
Samantha Dean has two major regrets in life-and both of them are dates with Vince Roberts. But somehow, since they started teaching at Serenity Landing Elementary II, he’s managed to worm his way into her life and make himself indispensable.
Vince Roberts has loved Samantha since their first date, though he hasn’t done the best job of showing it. Spending time together is one reason he volunteered both of them to plan the staff Christmas party.
They work together to take care of one of their own, dealing with the recent death of her husband in a house fire. As they plan the party, Samantha tries to keep Vince from finding his way into her heart. Will she admit the feelings that have been growing for so many years or walk away from Gifts of Love?
When she's not writing about her imaginary friends, Carol Moncado is hanging out with her husband and four kids in the big yard of their southwest Missouri home, teaching American Government at a community college, reading, or watching NCIS. She's a member of ACFW and RWA, President and founding member for the MozArks ACFW group, and a category coordinator for ACFW's First Impressions.
Christmas in Australia is in summer, so I grew up with Christmas lunch being a BBQ, salads etc. Christmas lights don’t make sense because it does not get dark until late, way after the kids are in bed. For that reason, Christmas in July makes sense if we want a “typical” European Christmas, it is darker, cold etc. We also do not celebrate the Fourth of July, so reading the these posts has been interesting. Have Gifts of Love and enjoyed reading it. Looking forward to the next of the royal books…
My family’s big thing when I was younger was “September Birthday celebrations”! Besides my mother, I have one uncle, and three cousins who were born in September.
We’ve never celebrated Christmas in July, but with temperatures near 100 degrees and humidity levels just as high, I could go for some December weather right now.
I enjoyed the excerpt, Carol…thanks for sharing!
Hi Carol! Our family has never celebrated Christmas in July, because we celebrate all spring, summer, and fall. We have several March birthdays. Around Mother’s Day we celebrate May birthdays. Around Father’s Day we celebrate June anniversaries. July is my husband’s birthday. August are more birthdays. October we have a birthday and anniversary. Around Christmas we also celebrate our grandson’s December 19th birthday and January birthdays, because in Michigan we never know when we will have a blizzard. With our sons grown and families of their own, we usually celebrate the weekend before Christmas.
Our youngest son has an early January birthday. He often felt his birthday was just an extension of Christmas, since I did not take down the Christmas tree until after his birthday. Always enjoy the extra lights on those dark, dark nights. One year we celebrated his 1/2 birthday in July, so he could have an outdoor party with friends and play his favorite summer game flashlight tag.
Even though I do not read many holiday themed books or books in general in July, I do enjoy watching Hallmark’s Christmas movies. Last fall I enjoyed reading your Christmas novella, Gifts of Love in the Snowflakes and Mistletoe collection.
Hi. I don’t think I have ever celebrated Christmas in July, but my cousin and her whole family have Christmas in July every year. That is when all the brothers and sisters and their families can get together easier since they don’t all live close.
The only celebration I’ve ever did in a different time of the year was my birthday. When I was young my parents held multiple parties because since school year was off in January my friends were no all around and I’d have at least one new party when school was back on. Then sometimes we’d travel to see family and they’d have another party (in addition to the one at home with friends and neighbors).
A couple of years ago when it was really cold (negative 22F) in January I just refused to do anything for my birthday and my friends suggested a half birthday in July. It was awesome. We ended up having a picnic while attending a performance of Shakespeare in the park by a local theater group.
When my kids were little we often celebrated Christmas in November at Thanksgiving so we could share with my in-laws.
We have never done Christmas in July , my family is pretty traditional when it comes to holidays!
The only “Christmas in July” I’m feeling right now is the joy of trying to write a Christmas novel in the heat of summer! Cue the Christmas music…
I’m thinking maybe if I read your book it might fool me into believing I’m not as hot as I really am! Thank you for the giveaway!
It is such a good book Carol. I loved reading about their story.
As for Christmas in July, one time as a teen I can remember singing Christmas songs at the top of my lungs with the car windows down. It was a scorching hot day in summer, and I was in a parking lot in Spokane, Washington. I did get some strange looks and it made me laugh. ?
Ah! I’m out of town (not tooooooo far but…) researching yarn conventions and yarn-y stuff for my next series!! I’ll be online in a couple hours and read through the responses ;).
No, we never did Christmas in July, but it sounds like a great idea!. Actually, Christmas can be at any time if you feel like celebrating.
We’re heading home from our annual summer vacation on the beach with family. We always enjoy seeing each other. In a week my youngest daughter is getting married. Our oldest has been married for quite a while. We enjoyed our grandkids and the new grand baby!
Never celebrated Christmas in July but I do love all the Christmas movies that are shown in July. It’s nice to rekindle the Christmas spirit in the heat of our summers.
Ooo! I never thought of it from a southern hemisphere perspective! I mean, I knew Christmas was in the summer, but not the Christmas in July thing.
Jonathan’s story should be up for preorder SOON! Hopefully this week! Keep an eye here or on my newsletter for special preorder pricing! (And Prince William will be book 3 in that series :D.)
The down side would be only one cake :p. Instead of a month of cake. ;)
Come to think of it, we never have cake when we get together… Hmm…
Thanks, Jill!!!! It’s been hot as blazes here, too. I’m ready for winter! (Or at least fall…)
I’m so glad you enjoyed it! And my y’all have a lot of celebrating going on!!!
One year we ended up with JUST colored lights on the tree and I LOVED it. The rest of my family? Notsomuch :p. My husband isn’t a Scrooge, but he’s ready to put the (much smaller new) tree away by lunchtime on Christmas Day… :p
haha! That’s awesome!!!
That’s awesome, Priscilla!!! My son’s the other way around. His birthday is in July and he always wants to celebrate in January because school’s in… :p And if it’s -22F all I’m gonna do is build a fire… ;)
That’s perfect, Merrilee! We have multiple Christmases, but USUALLY in December. Occasionally they spill over to January, but that’s more weather and schedule related…
Hehe! I am too. But with this particular couple, getting together with them during the holiday season was nearly impossible. By the time they worked full time at the mall all season then did family get togethers, there was no time left. So… earlyish New Year it was (usually Feb or Mar). One year we couldn’t get schedules to match up until summer…so…Christmas in July it is!
Haha! That’s next on my to write list… :D
i’m trying to imagine that myself… ;)
LOL! That’s awesome!!! I’m so glad you enjoyed their story!
Very good point!!!! One day, I want to have a room in my house that’s decorated for Christmas year round… someday…
That’s fantastic!!!! Not a big fan of the beach here, though. Too much sand every. where. the last few times we went ;). Now, NEAR the beach, I’m totally good with ;).
Isn’t it though? I need to look for some of those movies…
Hi Carol, Christmas in July is fun :) It makes sense in Australia for those of us who dream about experiencing a real white Christmas.
I have never celebrated Christmas in July until today at a FB party.
We actually don’t get a white Christmas very often. Cold? Yes. Not usually bitterly though. And lots of white Januaries. ;)
One of these days I’m gonna write an Aussie character and do something with that. Maybe… ;)
Did you have fun?!
I guess the whole winter/snow thing is not for me. I didn’t actually see snow until my 15th birthday.
Funny thing; my husband, his sister & I all have August birthday’s. We really try to get together and plan something to do to celebrate. Distance is a major factor in us not always being able to, but that doesn’t stop us from trying. We had two years in a row where we’ve gone up to WA (4hr drive) to visit for a few days and attend a pre-season Seahawk NFL game at the stadium. Oh how fun was that!!!!!! Time, distance, and cost has limited us in doing that in recent years sadly!